Kristy Smith column: For 15 years, local bands have made Coldwater sizzle

Members of the Jim Stout Band, from left, are Pete Fair, Jim Stout and Laurie Stout, playing at a previous Entertainment Under the Stars event in Coldwater’s Four Corners Park.
(Photo:
Kristy Smith/For the Enquirer
)

COLDWATER – There’s no better place to be than sitting on the grass under a shade tree on a hot Tuesday night in July — along with a few hundred other people. Better yet, the place comes alive with toe-tapping music beginning at 7 p.m.

It’s time for Branch County’s annual “Entertainment Under the Stars” series of outdoor summer concerts.

Coldwater’s Four Corners Park has been a great venue for the past 15 years of “Entertainment Under the Stars,” which starts July 1 on the northeast corner of U.S. 12 and Marshall Street. Although the stars don’t actually appear before the end of each concert, local musical stars abound on the stage each Tuesday night in July.

This year’s line-up features:

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July 1: Jim Stout Band — blues, folk and country sounds.

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July 8: The Steves — twisted classic rock band.

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July 15: Pat Taylor — blend of country and pop music mixed with comedy.

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July 22: The Lovey Howl Band — music from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.

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July 29 – Shades of Grey — a variety of tunes from the ’60s and ’70s.

“I am thrilled for this year’s Entertainment Under the Stars series line-up,” said Nichole Steel, executive director of the Branch County Area Chamber of Commerce, which coordinates the annual event. “There will be a few returning favorites and as well as new bands to showcase.”

Concertgoers bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating and cold beverages. They arrive early to jockey for the best seats for the shows, which range from one to two hours in length. Audience size has been as large as 600 people on the balmier summer nights. And with a little luck, the weather cooperates.

In addition to the music, other amenities are made available, either courtesy of and/or to benefit community organizations.

For instance, the Burnside Senior Center will distribute special hand-held cooling fans on July 15 and the United Methodist Men from a church adjacent to the park will serve root beer floats and sno-cones on July 22.

Although free to the public, Entertainment Under the Stars is a community gathering and community building event. This year, it’s serious fun for at least one serious cause.

On July 29, the Family Promise Shelter Program will host its annual hog roast. At 7 p.m., a group of 35 motorcyclists will drive by the four corners as part of their “Ride a Hog for the Homeless” promotion. The 35 bikes represent the number of homeless children in the Family Promise Shelter Program last year.

Jim Stout is proud to be a part of bringing the community together. He’s performed consistently at the event during each of Entertainment Under the Stars’ 15 years. Stout cites the intent of the organizers and the sponsorship of Southern Michigan Bank & Trust as par for the course for Branch County’s heart for hospitality.

“I started doing this event solo and had friends sit in part of the time. It’s evolved over time to a group and an eclectic mix of music,” Stout said.

He plays guitar, banjo and harmonica. His wife, Laurie, plays guitar, and their bandmate, Pete Fair, plays guitar and bass. All three perform vocals, including three-part harmony. The trio enjoys sharing the stage together, a somewhat radical switch from their respective day jobs as an excavator and elementary teachers.

During the rest of the year, with the exception of a public event at the Allegan County Fairgrounds, the Jim Stout Band plays mostly pubs and private parties.

“I realize that when we play at the park, this particular audience may not hear us anywhere else. It keeps me coming back year after year,” Stout said.

The Jim Stout Band will feature its renditions of songs from multiple artists, ranging from The Beatles to Hank Williams, to Allison Krauss and Old Crow Medicine Show.

“What’s really great is that we have a mix of everyone at the Entertainment Under the Stars concerts, from families with children, to older people from assisted living facilities,” Stout said. “It’s a night out for everyone. We’ve only been rained out one time of the 15 times I’ve played there. It’s a great time.”